Okay. That's a different issue, which you'll get to.
Evidence of meeting #4 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was data.
Evidence of meeting #4 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was data.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The numbers presented here today are based on census data, because only census data provides information about all aboriginal groups.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
So that relies on people actually completing the census form and being prepared to self-identity. So this would under-represent?
3:55 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
In terms of population count, yes. I didn't add the issue of data quality here and the differences between the two major data sources, which are the Indian register and the Census of Canada. But I would be glad to come back and give you a long, detailed presentation about these issues.
I'd like to mention one thing about the quality of the census. When you miss individuals, obviously your population count will be too low. But with respect to characteristics, the proportion of those with university degrees, employed.... When you look at the national or provincial picture, those indicators are not affected substantially by the non-participation of individuals. In a nutshell, those who participate and those who don't tend to share similar characteristics. So if they're not there, that won't affect the averages you're measuring.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Are some of these numbers used to determine funding, for example per capita funding?
3:55 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The funding issues I think would be better addressed by the people who actually work in the program area. It's not something I've developed any expertise in, to be totally honest.
The next slide is the classic demographers tool, the age pyramid. Most of you probably know, but I still want to highlight it, that the aboriginal people's age pyramid is a very young pyramid, a very young age structure. Fifty percent of the individuals are under the age of 25. For the rest of the Canadian population you're talking about one-third of the population. I could have broken it down by different aboriginal groups, but the story would have been the same. I can say that the Inuit has a younger age structure because of their higher fertility than other groups, but the pyramids would look almost the same in terms of structure.
A young pyramid, a pyramid that has that shape, the blue pyramid, is indicative of a population that's growing fast, and has the potential to continue to grow fast because it means that more and more young adults will come into parenting age.
Yes?
May 10th, 2006 / 3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Gary Merasty Liberal Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
On a couple of the previous slides, I think Jean brings up a good point on the under-representation of the census. I know in my area, for example, the census numbers are low. There is one band, for example, Peter Ballantyne, that has seven communities in the multi-community band and I think they got to two. I see your point on averages, but on actual numbers.... There is a direct correlation at the very least when it comes to the status population on funding. That definitely is an issue.
On the pyramid, and I just want to point this out, you'll notice a gap in the labour force age between the two populations. It has huge implications for post-secondary, HRSD, and education funding.
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
We're talking about 300,000 aboriginal kids right now in the education pipeline who are between the ages of 5 and 19 and who will enter the labour force over the next 15 years.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Gary Merasty Liberal Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
In the pipeline, but there are also others outside the pipeline.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I want to make sure I understand. The pyramid you are showing us in fact represents registered aboriginal people.
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
These are aboriginal peoples who have a legal status, who are therefore registered, or who have identified themselves as such, or are members of a first nation. This is the hybrid definition I referred to on the previous slide.
4 p.m.
Bloc
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes, sir.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
If a person does not participate in the census, how do you complete your data?
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
This graph is based on census data and only includes data provided in completed forms.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
So, there may be missing data, as there surely is, because we know that only about 30 to 40 per cent of aboriginals fill out their census forms.
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
This is census data from 2001 collected from aboriginal communities. If one day we decide to have a more detailed discussion on the matter of data quality, I would invite my colleague from Statistics Canada to join me.
In 2001, only 30 communities did not participate in the census. That was a significant improvement compared to the 1996 and 1991 surveys, when, if memory serves me, 77 and 78 communities did not participate.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
That's very important. I want to be sure that I understand. In fact, you are referring to registered communities. Let's take a theoretical example. How would the Winneway community in Témiscamingue, which does not exist in the data of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, go about registering?
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Every Canadian must fill out a census form. In the coming days, every person will receive a form which must be completed by May 16th. Census officials will go into native communities to help people fill out their forms. So, every Canadian is included in the census.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I understand that very well. I was a lawyer in a previous life.
I would like to ask you the following question. Are these programs based on the age pyramid, on census results, on information, really, provided by those who responded?
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I will repeat what I told your colleague a few moments ago. What I am interested in are output measures, or consequences. I want information on people's level of education on their housing conditions, and so on. You, on the other hand, are referring to data used to develop programs. I once again urge you to put those questions to people who are directly involved in that type of activity.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Can I just ask a short question?
Your next slide shows a snapshot of the populations by province, as they exist today. Do you have a comparable graph province by province?
4 p.m.
A/Director, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I don't have it here with me.